Sources of Health Insurance
and Characteristics of the Uninsured

West North Central States,
1999

Minnesota

The percentage of Minnesota's
nonelderly population (under age 65) without health
insurance coverage in 1999 was 8.9 percent. This was
lower than the national rate of 17.5 percent. Minnesota
had the second-lowest uninsured rate, Rhode Island (8.1
percent) had a lower uninsured rate. Minnesota's
nonelderly population also had a higher rate of
employment-based coverage, 76.0 percent, than the
national rate of 65.8 percent. Minnesota had the third
highest rate of employment-based coverage. Connecticut
(77.4 percent) and Maryland (76.2 percent) had higher
rates.

Children living in
Minnesota--infants through age 17--had a higher rate of
employment-based health insurance coverage, 74.9 percent,
than the national rate, 61.5 percent. The uninsured rate
for children in Minnesota, 7.4 percent, was below the
national rate, 13.9 percent.

Children living in families with
incomes 150 percent to 199 percent of the federal poverty
level were the most likely to be uninsured, 18.6 percent,
and children in families with income at 400 percent or
more of the federal poverty level were least likely to be
uninsured, 2.6 percent.

Minnesota workers had a higher rate
of employment-based health insurance coverage, 79.2
percent, than the national rate, 73.3 percent. Also, 57.1
percent of Minnesota workers had employment-based health
insurance coverage in their own name (meaning they were
the primary beneficiaries), compared with 55.6 percent
for the nation.

Larger firms were more likely than
smaller firms to provide coverage: 67.8 percent of
Minnesota workers in firms with 1,000 or more workers had
coverage in their own name, compared with 24.6 percent of
workers in firms with fewer than 10 employees.

Among Minnesota workers, the most
likely to have employment-based health insurance in their
own name were those in manufacturing, 77.9 percent, and
in finance, insurance, and real estate, 76.5 percent.
Workers in finance, insurance, and real estate had the
lowest uninsured rate in the state, 2.4 percent, followed
by workers in government, at 3.8 percent. Workers in
construction and in wholesale/retail trade had the
highest uninsured rates in the state, 20.3 percent and
15.6 percent, respectively.

Iowa

The percentage of Iowa's nonelderly
population (under age 65) without health insurance
coverage in 1999, 9.5 percent, was lower than the
national rate of 17.5 percent. Iowa had the third-lowest
uninsured rate; Rhode Island (8.1 percent) and Minnesota
(8.9 percent) had lower rates. Iowa's nonelderly
population also had a higher rate of employment-based
coverage, 74.5 percent, than the national rate of 65.8
percent.

Children living in Iowa--infants
through age 17--had a higher rate of employment-based
health insurance coverage, 74.7 percent, than the
national rate, 61.5 percent. The uninsured rate for
children in Iowa, 6.2 percent, was also below the
national rate of 13.9 percent. Iowa had the third-lowest
uninsured rate for children. Missouri (5.4 percent) and
New Hampshire (5.9 percent) had lower rates.

Children living in families with
incomes just above the federal poverty level--100 percent
to 149 percent--were the most likely to be uninsured,
21.7 percent, and children in families with incomes at
400 percent or more of the federal poverty level were
least likely to be uninsured, 0.7 percent.

A higher rate of Iowa workers had
employment-based health insurance coverage, 77.1 percent,
than the national rate of 73.3 percent. Also, 55.3
percent of Iowa workers had employment-based health
insurance coverage in their own name (meaning they were
the primary beneficiaries), compared with 55.6 percent
for the nation.

Larger firms were more likely than
smaller firms to provide coverage: 69.9 percent of Iowa
workers in firms with 1,000 or more workers had coverage
in their own name, compared with 29.5 percent of workers
in firms with fewer than 10 employees.

Among Iowa workers, the most likely
to have employment-based health insurance in their own
name were those in transportation, communications, and
utilities, 75.9 percent, and in manufacturing, 73.4
percent. Workers in government had the lowest uninsured
rate in the state, 3.9 percent, followed by those in
agriculture/mining, 4.0 percent. Workers in construction
and in wholesale/retail trade had the highest uninsured
rates in the state at 23.4 percent and 12.6 percent,
respectively.

Missouri

The percentage of Missouri's
nonelderly population (under age 65) without health
insurance coverage in 1999, 9.6 percent, was lower than
the national rate, 17.5 percent. Missouri's nonelderly
population also had a higher rate of employment-based
coverage, 72.5 percent, than the national rate, 65.8
percent.

Children living in
Missouri--infants through age 17--had a higher rate of
employment-based health insurance coverage, 67.3 percent,
than the national rate of 61.5 percent. The uninsured
rate for children in Missouri,
5.4 percent, was below the national rate, 13.9 percent.
Missouri had the lowest uninsured rate for children.

Children living in families with
incomes below the federal poverty level were the most
likely to be uninsured, 7.6 percent, and children in
families with incomes just above the federal poverty
level--100 percent to 149 percent--were least likely to
be uninsured, less than1 percent.

Missouri workers had a higher rate
of employment-based health insurance coverage, 79.2
percent, than the national rate, 73.3 percent. Also, 61.7
percent of Missouri workers had employment-based health
insurance coverage in their own name (meaning they were
the primary beneficiaries), compared with 55.6 percent
for the nation.

Larger firms were more likely than
smaller firms to provide coverage: 65.9 percent of
Missouri workers in firms with 1,000 or more workers had
coverage in their own name, compared with 34.4 percent of
workers in firms with fewer than 10 employees.

Among Missouri workers, the most
likely to have employment-based health insurance in their
own name were those in manufacturing, 86.7 percent, and
in government, 79.0 percent. Manufacturing workers had
the lowest uninsured rate in the state, 4.2 percent,
followed by workers in government at 4.6 percent. The
highest uninsured rates in the state were among workers
in agriculture/mining, 18.9 percent, and workers who were
self-employed, 18.6 percent.

North Dakota

The percentage of North Dakota's
nonelderly population (under age 65) without health
insurance coverage in 1999, 14.0 percent, was lower than
the national rate, 17.5 percent. North Dakota's
nonelderly population had a lower rate of
employment-based coverage, 64.4 percent, than the
national rate, 65.8 percent. North Dakota had the
third-highest rate of individually purchased health
insurance coverage, 12.8 percent. South Dakota (14.9
percent) and Nebraska (13.1 percent) had higher rates of
individually purchased coverage.

Children living in North
Dakota--infants through age 17--had a lower rate of
employment-based health insurance coverage, 59.4 percent,
than the national rate, 61.5 percent. The uninsured rate
for children in North Dakota, 10.4 percent, was below the
national rate, 13.9 percent.

Children living in families with
incomes just above the federal poverty level--100 percent
to 149 percent--were the most likely to be uninsured,
20.9 percent, and children in families with incomes of
400 percent or more of the federal poverty level were
least likely to be uninsured, 5.0 percent.

North Dakota workers had a lower
rate of employment-based health insurance coverage, 70.6
percent, than the national rate, 73.3 percent. Also, 51.1
percent of North Dakota workers had employment-based
health insurance coverage in their own name (meaning they
were the primary beneficiaries), compared with 55.6
percent for the nation.

Larger firms were more likely than
smaller firms to provide coverage: 65.1 percent of North
Dakota workers in firms with 1,000 or more workers had
coverage in their own name, compared with 22.0 percent of
those in firms with fewer than 10 employees.

Among North Dakota workers, the
most likely to have employment-based health insurance
coverage in their own name were those in transportation,
communications, and utilities, 77.2 percent, and in
government,
68.7 percent. Finance, insurance, and real estate workers
had the lowest uninsured rate in the state, 3.1 percent,
followed by workers in government, 9.1 percent. Workers
in agriculture/mining and in construction trade had the
highest uninsured rates in the state at 24.2 percent and
20.9 percent, respectively.

South Dakota

The percentage of South Dakota's
nonelderly population (under age 65) without health
insurance coverage in 1999, 13.6 percent, was lower than
the national rate, 17.5 percent. South Dakota's
nonelderly population also had a lower rate of
employment-based coverage, 63.7 percent, than the
national rate, 65.8 percent. South Dakota had the highest
rate of individually purchased health insurance coverage,
14.9 percent

Children living in South
Dakota--infants through age 17--had a higher rate of
employment-based health insurance coverage, 62.5 percent,
than the national rate, 61.5 percent. The uninsured rate
for children in South Dakota, 9.1 percent, was slightly
below the national rate, 13.9 percent.

Children living in families with
incomes just above the federal poverty level--100 percent
to 149 percent of poverty--were the most likely to be
uninsured, 15.8 percent, and children in families with
incomes at 400 percent or more of the federal poverty
level were least likely to be uninsured, 2.8 percent.

South Dakota workers had a lower
rate of employment-based health insurance coverage, 67.4
percent, than the national rate, 73.3 percent. Also, 50.0
percent of South Dakota workers had employment-based
health insurance coverage in their own name (meaning they
were the primary beneficiaries), compared with 55.6
percent for the nation.

Larger firms were more likely than
smaller firms to provide coverage: 56.0 percent of South
Dakota's workers in firms with 1,000 or more workers had
coverage in their own name, compared with 26.9 percent of
workers in firms with fewer than 10 employees.

Among South Dakota workers, the
most likely to have employment-based health insurance
coverage in their own name were those in transportation,
communications, and utilities, 73.9 percent, and in
government,
71.4 percent. Workers in government had the lowest
uninsured rate in the state, 7.2 percent, followed by
those in finance, insurance, and real estate, 7.4
percent. Workers in construction and those who were
self-employed had the highest uninsured rates in the
state, at 29.3 percent and 19.8 percent, respectively.

Nebraska

The percentage of Nebraska's
nonelderly population (under age 65) without health
insurance coverage in 1999, 12.3 percent, was lower than
the national rate, 17.5 percent. Nebraska's nonelderly
population also had a higher rate of employment-based
coverage, 66.5 percent, than the national rate, 65.8
percent. Nebraska had the second highest rate of
individually purchased health insurance coverage, 13.1
percent; South Dakota had the highest, 14.9 percent.

Children living in
Nebraska--infants through age 17--had a higher rate of
employment-based health insurance coverage, 66.5 percent,
than the national rate, 61.5 percent. The uninsured rate
for children in Nebraska, 8.9 percent, was below the
national rate, 13.9 percent.

Children living in families with
incomes just above the federal poverty level--100 percent
to 149 percent--were the most likely to be uninsured,
28.5 percent, and children in families with incomes at
400 percent or more of the federal poverty level were
least likely to be uninsured, 0.7 percent.

Nebraska workers had a lower rate
of employment-based health insurance coverage, 69.3
percent, than the national rate, 73.3 percent. Also, 49.3
percent of Nebraska workers had employment-based health
insurance coverage in their own name (meaning they were
the primary beneficiaries), compared with 55.6 percent
for the nation.

Larger firms were more likely than
smaller firms to provide coverage: 65.2 percent of
Nebraska workers in firms with 1,000 or more workers had
coverage in their own name, compared with 27.6 percent of
workers in firms with fewer than 10 employees.

Nebraska workers most likely to
have employment-based health insurance coverage in their
own name were those in manufacturing, 69.6 percent, and
in transportation, communications, and utilities, 66.6
percent. Workers in government also had the lowest
uninsured rate in the state, 5.8 percent, followed by
finance, insurance, and real estate workers at 7.5
percent. Workers in construction and in
agriculture/mining had the highest uninsured rates in the
state, at 24.4 percent and 20.3 percent, respectively.

Kansas

The percentage of Kansas'
nonelderly population (under age 65) without health
insurance coverage in 1999, 14.0 percent, was lower than
the national rate, 17.5 percent. Kansas' nonelderly
population also had a higher rate of employment-based
coverage, 68.2 percent, than the national rate, 65.8
percent.

Children living in Kansas--infants
through age 17--had a higher rate of employment-based
health insurance coverage, 63.8 percent, than the
national rate, 61.5 percent. The uninsured rate for
children in Kansas, 12.5 percent, was below the national
rate, 13.9 percent.

Children living in families with
incomes below the federal poverty level were the most
likely to be uninsured, 37.9 percent, and children in
families with incomes at 400 percent or more of the
federal poverty level were least likely to be uninsured,
1.3 percent.

Kansas workers had a higher rate of
employment-based health insurance coverage, 74.6 percent,
than the national rate, 73.3 percent. Also, 55.3 percent
of Kansas workers had employment-based health insurance
coverage in their own name (meaning they were the primary
beneficiaries), compared with 55.6 percent for the
nation.

Larger firms were more likely than
smaller firms to provide coverage: 67.5 percent of Kansas
workers in firms with 1,000 or more workers had coverage
in their own name, compared with 33.0 percent of workers
in firms with fewer than 10 employees.

Kansas workers most likely to have
employment-based health insurance coverage in their own
name were those in manufacturing and in transportation,
communications, and utilities, 74.8 percent each. Workers
in agriculture/mining had the lowest uninsured rate in
the state, 3.9 percent, followed by workers in finance,
insurance, and real estate, 5.0 percent. Workers in
construction and in wholesale/retail trade had the
highest uninsured rates in the state, at 31.0 percent and
16.2 percent, respectively.